NEWS STORIES

DECEMBER 2011

Dec. 30: A judge in Federal District Court in Fresno, California, has sided with America's ethanol industry in ruling that the State of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is unconstitutional. Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill agreed with the arguments that the LCFS is in violation of the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. “This ruling reaffirms our position that the state of California violated the U.S. Constitution when it …

Dec. 29: As the entrepreneurial spirit in Vietnam continues its rapid growth, U.S. farmers see increasing potential in this rapidly growing market. During a recent mission to the country, organized by the U.S. Grains Council, participants saw first-hand the opportunities in this market while also learning the importance of a carefully nuanced approach to the expansion of U.S. agricultural exports in this region. The nine team members, all of …

Dec. 28: Increased export demand for U.S. pork is raising pork profitability and leading to an overall rise in the national hog inventory according to a December reports released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service. The National Corn Growers Association welcomes this growth, which translates into stronger demand for corn and distillers dried grains. “Corn farmers value our relationship with the …

Dec. 27: The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2013 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization’s leadership. Click here for the application, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines. The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. …

Dec. 27: The National Corn Growers Association is currently involved in two major pieces of environmental litigation that will likely be decided in federal court in 2012. This could have major implications for future environmental regulations. Earlier this year, NCGA joined with the American Farm Bureau Federation and other agricultural organizations to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s Total Maximum Daily Load for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the Chesapeake …

Dec. 23: Late last week, the World Trade Organization concluded its Eighth Ministerial Conference in Geneva. The meetings are held every other year and allow international trade negotiators an opportunity to tackle the most pressing trade issues. At the ministerial meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined colleagues assessing the state of the Doha Round of WTO negotiations. “The National Corn Growers Association appreciates the efforts of U.S. trade …

Dec. 23: Earlier this month, the National Corn Growers Association joined more than 60 agriculture organizations to send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the administration to work with Japan to facilitate Japan’s full participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership. The negotiations currently include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. “The addition of …

Dec. 22: The decision to allow Russia to become a member of the World Trade Organization can be a benefit to American agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association said. WTO ministers adopted Russia’s terms of entry at the Eighth Ministerial Meeting, held recently in Geneva, and Russia has 220 days to ratify its accession agreement. “Russia’s membership makes the WTO a more universal trade organization,” Chad Blindauer, Chair of …

Dec. 21: Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2011 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite the challenging weather conditions that plagued the Corn Belt throughout the year, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances. The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 47th year and …

Dec. 20: Over the past year, the National Corn Growers Association has monitored issues surrounding the wireless broadband company LightSquared. While the Federal Communications Commission considers approval of LightSquared’s proposed terrestrial based broadband network, NCGA remains concerned about the effects it would have on precision farming. GPS technology has become an important tool for farmers as they improve their efficiency in seed, fertilizer and fuel usage. “Strong and speedy …

Dec. 19: Milk production is on the rise according to reports released today by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As the U.S. dairy industry is a major market for feed corn, distillers dried grains and corn silage, the National Corn Growers Association noted that this trend benefits not only dairy but also grain farmers across the country. “It is important to value our …

Dec. 19: An elite delegation of agricultural leaders , sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, made history as the first group to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia following passage of free trade agreements with the United States. National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott and USGC Chairman Wendell Shauman, along with Council staff, explored the outlook for FTA implementation with government officials, private sector grain customers, …

Dec. 16: The National Corn Growers Association launched the next-generation of its Insect Resistance Management refuge calculator online today to help growers as they begin planning for the 2012 growing season. The product of a collaboration between agribusiness and NCGA, under the leadership of the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team, the calculator allows users to easily clarify refuge options and develop a plan, even for the latest products available …

Dec. 15: The U.S. Grains Council continued efforts to educate Chinese feed ingredient buyers about the many advantages of dried distillers grains from the United States. DDGS, an ethanol coproduct, act as a competitively priced, environmentally friendly source of protein for animals and present an excellent opportunity for both ingredient buyers and ethanol producers alike. The Council, of which the National Corn Growers Association is a founding member, held …

Dec. 14: The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2013 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization’s leadership. Click here for the application, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines. The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. …

Dec. 13: The St. Louis AgriBusiness Club today presented National Corn Growers Association Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman with its prestigious AgriBusiness Leader of the Year Award. This honor is conferred upon a person who has made a substantial contribution to the well-being of agriculture in the St. Louis area, either on a local or national scale. Tolman was selected for this award because his service to agriculture reflects …

Dec. 13: After efforts to pass the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, H.R. 872, failed in the Senate earlier this fall, a bipartisan group of Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) asking for full consideration on the Senate floor before the end of the year. The legislation previously passed the House of Representatives in March and passed the …

Dec. 12: While U.S. corn production this past year was impacted by several major weather-related events that cut acres and yield, taking a broader look shows how grain demands can be met by taking into account overseas production. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting record global corn, wheat and rice production. “We always hold that, no matter the challenge we face, the global marketplace will respond …

Dec. 9: This week, the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board, Action Teams and Committees convened in St. Louis to delve into the issues and opportunities that will affect corn farmers across the country during the coming year. Gaining information from presentations by leaders from industry and government, the team members explored possible changes to team policies and activities that could help their respective programs improve efforts to create …

Dec. 7: With only two days remaining before the December 9 deadline, the National Corn Growers Association reminds members that it, along with the BASF Corporation, will again award five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field during the 2012-13 school year. “This program is important for candidates as it helps fund their ongoing education, but it is also important for the …

Dec. 7: During a Farm Journal Forum Tuesday in Washington, National Corn Growers Association Senior Director of Public Policy Sam Willett outlined NCGA’s priorities for a new farm bill. Willett was joined on the panel by representatives of USDA’s Risk Management Agency and the National Sustainable Ag Coalition. “NCGA continues advocating for our members as Congress begins writing the new farm bill,” Willett said. “Our farmers are looking for …

Dec. 6: The National Corn Growers Association’s 2011 Social Media Training Program will feature a final webinar next week that will recapping material covered throughout the year and linking each social media tactic to the larger overall agricultural picture. The program is generously supported by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business. “Throughout this year, the social media webinar series has offered growers a variety of tools and tips that are …

Dec. 6: Starting tomorrow, dozens of corn growers who are respected leaders in their industry and actively involved in the National Corn Growers Association will gather in St. Louis for a round of meetings to discuss the issues that will affect farmers heading into 2012. Many growers are braving difficult weather conditions and delaying preparation for the upcoming growing year to attend these meetings. “The December action team meetings …

Dec. 5: High-yield technologies like those used in the United States will have to be effectively adapted for use world-wide in order to meet growing global food demand, according to the findings of a study released by University of Minnesota Professor David Tilman and colleagues in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Estimating that global food demand will double by the year 2050, the scientists project that, in …

Dec. 2: The National Corn Growers Association helped to motivate and educate the next generation of women farm managers and owners through participation in the landmark Executive Women in Agriculture Conference, hosted by Top Producer magazine in Chicago, Ill. During this seminar, NCGA First Vice President Pam Johnson spoke to attendees both about her personal experience as a female association leader and the goals of the organization in general …

Dec. 2: The National Corn Growers Association’s Washington office is on the move this weekend, relocating to 20 F Street, NW, Suite 600, from its former C Street location. The new space more adequately accommodates staff and allows for the use of updated information technology options as well as improved synergies by collocating with the U.S. Grains Council. “This move will provide our staff with the physical room and …

Dec. 1: In the spirit of gratitude prevalent around the holidays, CommonGround volunteers from Iowa and Nebraska jointly hosted a dinner last night to thank the consumers for purchasing the foods they grow. This event brought dieticians, bloggers and parents together at Anthony’s Steakhouse in Omaha, Neb., to discuss food and farming with the volunteers and Dr. Ruth MacDonald, Department Chair of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa …

Dec. 1: The National Corn Growers Association, along with 47 other agricultural organizations, sent comments to the Department of Labor outlining concerns with proposed child labor regulations. “Our members understand the dangers associated with working on a farm and they are committed to ensuring youth are safe,” NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said. “NCGA has also taken a proactive role in farm safety by providing a video on the dangers …

Dec. 1: The National Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association, in partnership with the Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Nebraska Corn Growers Associations, have released a tool to help voters quickly determine where candidates stand on a variety of agricultural issues. Aimed at keeping corn farmers informed and engaged in the political process during the 2012 presidential campaign, the Corn Caucus report card and accompanying information offer …